Nursing phrases

[oneota]

Hi,

I am looking for phrases nurses commonly use with patients, e.g., "I am going to take your bollod pressure now," "This will hurt a little," "Please hold still," "Who is your next of kin," and "The doctor will see you now / shortly."

Thanks

[LilPeanut, MSN, RN, NP]

btw, WC, CP and TB stand for Whooping Cough, Chicken Pox and tuberculosis in case you didn't figure it out :)

Good luck to them. I'm fluent in spanish (or I was several years ago, I'm a little rusty now ) and it's really hard to go from normal conversational spanish to technical medical terminology. I've had to look up whooping cough, measles etc. because they never managed to come into conversation when I was learning :lol:

[Maine Critical Care]

OMG some of these are wickedly funny!!

I actually like to sit down and say "How are you" then wait for the answer.

Asking about basic stuff first is good, like "how did you sleep" "Are you having any pain" "are you hungry" etc. Then the touchy stuff can be approached. Like "When was your last drink?" "what do you like to drink?" "We think your body might withdraw from alcohol, has that ever happened to you before?" "Let me ask you a stupid question- who is the President right now?" "Where are we right now?" "What month is it" (If they flunk, then "What season is it?" What is your phone number?" "Is the light bothering your eyes?" "How are your nerves?" "Hold out your hands and touch my fingers" (Feeling for signs of tremor)

Be prepared to get a lot of Ativan and the Net restraint.

[slinkeecat]

You will feel a slight discomfort..... (HEHEHEHEEE)

Mam/Sir you cannot smoke in here...

Please put the cigarette out

I'm sorry, but I'm married....

You're in the hospital...

[Logan]

Hi,

Open ended questions/phrases are a nurse's best friend :)

Thanks,

Matthew

[bagladyrn, RN]

I was asking that question; I haven't resided in the States in some time and had never heard the phrase.

thnaks to all who gave serious answers. It will really help my nursing students. (There tons of sources for technical vocabulary, but this is the only place where I could get these critical downn-to-earth phrases.) :)

Here's some that are related to OB/Labor and Delivery:

What is your due date?

How many times have you been pregnant?

How many children do you have?

Were they lady partsl deliveries? C-sections?

How often are the contractions?

What time did they start?

Has your water broken?

Are you having lady partsl bleeding?

Breathe - don't push! (When the doctor isn't here yet!)

Push now. Again.

These are the phrases I use the most and have tried to learn in multiple languages - can manage all of this in Spanish, though not grammatically correctly, some in Navajo, and some in Creole. I was taught to say some of these in Russian, but have forgotten most of that.

[Elisheva]

I used to work 12 midnight shifts on a busy med-surg floor. Often, there was no such thing as sleep for our patients; we were in their rooms all night long changing dressings, hanging IVs, etc.

Sometimes, when the sun was coming up and I was about to go off-shift, I'd walk into a patient's room (a patient that I knew had a sense of humor) and stand by the bedside for a minute looking thoughtful until they asked what I wanted. Then I'd say, "Oh, nothing....I was just trying to think of one more thing I could do to you before I leave."

[lovinghands]

Are you thinking of harming yourself? Others?

How can I help you be more comfortable?

This med is for ...

Did you have a bowel movement today?

How do you handle this at home?

You have a choice...

Tell me about ...

When was your last drink?

Do you need to use the restroom?

[glascow]

(right before the needle goes in)

"Big stick"

"If you don't pee, I'm going to have to put in a catheter."

(to male patients who continue to pull/tug at their foleys)

"If you pull out that catheter, your member is going to fall off"

"Any numbness or tingling to *insert extremity*"

"I'm sorry it took so long for me to respond, threre was an emergency with another patient"

"Do you have your call bell?"

"This pain medicine is strong, it will work" *Said in your most convincing voice*

"I need to keep track of everything you drink"

"Call if you need anything"

[Elisheva]

How long have you had THAT???

[augigi, CNS]

ICU:

- Don't touch the tube/catheter/swan/drain!

- [insert name]! Can you hear me? Open your eyes!

- It's ok, the operation is over, relax

- This is going to make you cough [suctioning]

- Hold the pillow tight and take deep breaths!

- Lie still!

- Your [wife/husband] is here!

- You can't have a drink yet

- Squeeze my hands! Wiggle your toes!

[supernurse65]

I didn't order the medication I just have to give you the injection!!!

You'll have to speak to the Dr. about that.

Relax and take a deep breath.

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

If you need me hit the red cross button and someone or myself will come as soon as possible. We don't tend to respond to the TV button, and vs versa..LOL! (our call lights have just those two buttons).

Lets see here, is your IV regular or unleaded (potassium or not)..LOL!

I come bearing pain meds!

These pills may look different from yours because they are from our pharamacy. Lets go over them so you can be assured they are the right ones!

Okay...a little white pill you say? Does it make you pee all the time? (the never ending lasix pill probe!).

If I had the answer to that, I would have the MD by my name and have today off! LOL! (only for funny patients!).

Thank you for waiting...I was detained (use that A LOT!).

(for post ops trying to advance diets) Okay take a tip from me...if you are going to order food, make sure you order something that in CASE it comes up...it won't be too painful!